Ivory enjoys enduring popularity among Chinese consumers. Durable, attractive and (perhaps most importantly) status-enhancing, ivory has been coveted among the affluent for centuries. Uses range from jewellery and other decorative objects to ear-picks and chopsticks.

Alan Tam Wai-lun, 41, was the lead artist on an ice sculpture that beat 16 entries to win the top prize at the Sapporo Ice and Snow Festival last month. He hopes to pass his skill of transforming blocks of ice into works of art on to Hong Kong's next generation.

Hong Kong still plays a substantial role in the illegal ivory trade, a London-based environmental group claimed yesterday.

Under Hong Kong law, individuals who possess 5kg ivory or more must register with authorities. Ivory imports and exports are prohibited, including trade with the mainland. It is illegal to sell ivory goods to non-residents.

After a seven-year ban on trade in ivory, which has seen the gradual death of Hong Kong's ivory carving industry and the closure of one after another of its ivory merchants, member countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) are set to consider resuming the business.